Westbury bank chief gives up chairman role

The president and chief executive of Long Island's largest bank holding company gave up his title as chairman in recognition of the company's size, bank officials said Wednesday.

Joseph Ficalora has been president and CEO at Westbury-based New York Community Bancorp since July 1993 and added the third title in January 2007. The company has grown to become the 22nd largest bank holding company in the nation, with assets of $41.7 billion. It runs nine bank divisions that have 276 branches in the metropolitan area, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida and Arizona.

"It's appropriate in terms of our growing stature," Ilena Angarola, executive vice president, said of the change. "We've been very open that we intend to keep growing through acquisition."

Replacing Ficalora as chairman is longtime board member Dominick Ciampa. He runs the Ciampa Organization, a Queens real estate company, and has chaired the bank company's mortgage and real estate committee.